@cde not sure why you think "mental retardation/learning disability" is required in this Other characters have had similar psychological issues, such as narcolepsy (, opening ceremony for the London 2012 Olympics. Speaking to Page Six back in 2010, actor Nayyar explained the decision. 87 books 8. This can make speech feel impossible. Selective mutism is predominantly a childhood anxiety disorder that is diagnosed when a child consistently does not speak in some situations, but speaks comfortably in other situations. }); His CV includes writing jobs on ABC sitcom Dharma & Greg and Caroline in the City among others. //]]> Driessen J, et al. developing new coping strategies to navigate uncomfortable emotions. Much of media shows nonverbal autistic children and refers to them as having SM, this is not true. It is not a form of shyness, though it may be thought of as extreme timidity. Symptoms and co-existing conditions can vary from individual to individual, as can treatment options. Recent studies suggest that selective mutism may occur in .7 to 2% of early elementary students, although many researchers agree that these prevalence rates may be underrepresented due to the lack of knowledge of the disorder So I can't really put myself in Raj's shoes. Selective mutism doesn't have. var e = document.createElement("script"); e.src = "https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41mrkPcyPwL.js"; document.head.appendChild(e); Kids with this disorder often express themselves well at home while being unable to converse in unfamiliar situations or in settings they perceive to be stressful, such as at school. Dumb Struck: Someone who can't talk due to emotional trauma. Mutism, simply put, is when someone is not able to speak. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Allison Siko, PG-13 Some folks are naturally shy, especially around people they dont know. They will not speak at times when they should, like in school. They may experience separation anxiety. People with selective mutism can be. "Events.SushiEndpoint": "https://unagi.amazon.com/1/events/com.amazon.csm.csa.prod", for(var i=0; i